Simulation of large-displacement landslide by material point method

The classical finite element method (FEM) is not suitable for the simulation of large-displacement landslide, which is a typical dynamic process involving extremely large deformation. A dynamic simulation of a landslide by the material point method is presented, and some numerical techniques in relation with this method are discussed. First, the dynamic relaxation techniques, viscous damping and kinetic damping, are employed to generate the initial stress field within the entire slope, and the results are in accordance with those calculated by the finite element method. Then, the slide is triggered for the initially stable slope by removing the cohesion of the soil, and the entire sliding process is followed until a new state of static equilibrium is reached. The simulation shows that the position and curvature of the failure surface during sliding change with time, that the sliding mode varies from rotational mode at the beginning of sliding to plane mode later, and that eventually a stable slope is formed, the repose angle of which is less than the internal friction angle of the soil .